Thursday, December 4, 2008

Back to the Curb

Didn't realize anyone had found this blog.

Sorry to say, I took the sling to a few places to see if they could re-do it. they all agreed that they could sew a fabric cover, but they don't have the stiff plastic/resin strip that fits into the channels on the sides of the chair and they don't have whatever very strong and resilient interfacing goes on the inside of the sling to prevent it from stretching and deforming after a little use. Most Upholstery fabrics are supported by foam on the inside so the upholstery itself just contains the support system. On the aluminum group chairs the fabric sling is the support system itself so ordinary fabrics won't work.

I probably gave up too easily, but my GF wanted it done or out of the kitchen and I wasn't getting anywhere. So it went back to the curb. If anyone figures out how to make a new sling that works, let me know. I see these cheap from time to time and I'm dying to take another shot at it.

Sorry to be a disappointment.

2 comments:

Sean said...

I would love buy those parts to finish my chair if you still had them.

Lou Chilson said...

I know exactly what you're going through. I just picked up a Management Chair from a local junkyard (in Brazil). I really enjoyed your very thorough and detailed examination of the beginning stages of disassembly and discovery. Sad to see you stopped. I am presently at the rather disappointing moment where one discovers the dreaded 30-odd aluminum studs or nails that affix the fabric to each of the rails. The seat covers are actually a sandwich of 2 pieces of hopsack fabric (or Naugahyde) covering an inner layer of tough vinyl that has been welded to a thin sheet of foam. The ribbed surface is a result of the electronic/ultrasound welding. There are two reinforcing strips of a fiber material that are sewn to the sides of this seat/back cover. The edge of the fabric/vinyl sandwich is then folded over this fiber strip and inserted into the groove in the aluminum rail. Then the nailing begins: they are driven through holes in the rails and lodge themselves into the fabric and fiber-lined edges of the seat/back along almost the entire length of the seat/back. The edges without the fiber strip are then folded into the hollow of the cylinder ends of the rails where the edging is affixed by tightening the Allen screws. Don't give up, I know it can be done!